Jim Seimas, Airing It Out: Quick Colin Kaepernick's record outing puts him in elite 49ers company

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs for a 20-yard touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick -- a second-year pro making his postseason debut -- did something no other quarterback, 49ers or otherwise, has ever done in the NFL playoffs.

Kaepernick -- dubbed "Kaeperquick" by many -- ran for 181 yards Saturday night, a NFL postseason record for quarterbacks. The yardage total was also a franchise-best mark and accomplished on 16 carries. He finished with two rushing touchdowns and two passing.

In going Usain Bolt on the visiting Green Bay Packers, the 49ers pulled away in the second half for a 45-31 victory and a repeat trip to the NFC Championship next week.

The 49ers will face Sunday's winner between Seattle and Atlanta with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh knew of Kaepernick's skills -- it was surely one of the reasons he picked the dual-threat Nevada alum over Alex Smith eight games ago. Still, the quarterback opened more eyes Saturday.

"We never see him open it up like that in practice," said 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis. "To see him do that in a game, it amazes me. It was like, 'Wow, did he just do that?'"

Yes. Time and time again.

He also completed 17 of 31 passes for 263 yards.

Kaepernick was often a red blur -- even on slowed-down replays, that captured Packers defenders tackling nothing but a trail of smoke.

He set the rushing record after streaking 52 yards untouched on a third-quarter gallop, only stopping for a celebrational biceps flex in the end zone with teammate Michael Crabtree.

Kaepernick humbly deferred credit.

"It's a lot easier on me when other people are making plays," he said.

When he came to the sideline after his back-breaking run, Kaepernick hugged Harbaugh.

Good decision, coach.

That's not what Kaepernick said. Those are my words, in between mouthfuls of crow.

I was not a fan of the midseason quarterback change, when Smith suffered a concussion Nov. 11 only to find a permanent seat on the sideline when he returned.

Smith endeared himself to 49ers fans with improved play last season and again in a thrilling playoff victory over New Orleans in last season's divisional playoff.

But Kaepernick made Harbaugh look like a genius, yet again.

Kaepernick made several game-changing plays in the first half, when he ran for a career-best 107 yards and a touchdown and passed for two others to Crabtree, a slot receiver.

The best thing about his outing wasn't his successes, it was his few costly blunders. Or, rather, how he reacted to each.

After the 49ers won the coin flip and elected to receive the kickoff, Kaepernick's second pass attempt of the game, a ball intended for tight end Vernon Davis in tight coverage, was snagged by Packers cornerback Sam Shields and returned 52 yards for a pick-6.

Kaepernick returned to the sideline, blowing hot air into his throwing hand. That's when he decided to give validation to Harbaugh for making a quarterback change.

On his next series, Kaepernick missed some receivers and was also sacked by Clay Matthews, but he pumped some life into the 49ers with a bit of fancy footwork, capping San Francisco's drive with a dazzling 20-yard scoring run.

After crossing the end zone, he kissed his tattoo-covered biceps.

That was foreshadowing for much of the next two quarters.

For every five plays of brilliance, there was one of the mind-boggling variety. None was more frustrating than the 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty Kaepernick drew for taunting following his 15-yard run to the Packers' 9.

Again, he bounced back. This time with one of a pair of rockets he threw to Crabtree for second-quarter scores, which helped him trend on Twitter. Both those scores came after Packers turnovers, including an interception throw by three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his first in 184 pass attempts.

After the Packers tied the score 21-all minutes before the half, Kaepernick didn't do anything costly. Quite the opposite. He busted off a couple of big runs to help set up a 36-yard field goal for the lead at halftime.

The Packers couldn't find a solution for Kaepernick in the second half either.

Was he going to pass, hand the ball off or keep it himself?

"I don't want to be categorized," he said, when asked if he was a runner or passer.

Too bad. Even at the clip he's going, there will be one he can't outrun: